Coin singling and sorting device



22, 1950 F. F. DAUGHERTY 2,519,357

COIN SINGLING AND SORTING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 2, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI. FIGZ.

I N VENTOR F UNT E DAUGHERTY BY ATTORNEY A g 1950 F. F. DAUGHERTY 2,519,357

COIN SINGLING AND SORTING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

I N VENT 0R; FOUNT' E DAUGHERT'Y Arron/v5) 1950 F. F. DAUGHEkTY 2,519,357

COIN SINGLING AND SORTING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG] II" it IN VENTOR Fou/vr E DAUGHERTY ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1950 F. F. DAUGHERTY 2,519,

com SINGLING AND SORTING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 2, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet.5

I NVENTOR FOUNT FDAUGHERTY flTTORNEY 1950 F. F. DAL\JGHERTY 2,519,357

COIN SINGLING AND SORTING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 2, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. IO. -41

INVENTOR; |6. l-burvr EDAUGHEHTY HTTORNE Y Aug. 22, 1950 F. F. DAUGHERTY com smcuuc AND SOR'IING DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed Jan. 2, 1940 INVENTOR; Fou/vr E DAUGHERTY W Arrow/:3 i a Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN SINGLING AND SORTING DEVICE Fount F. Daugherty, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Thomas Francis, Fount F. Daugherty, Neal S. Wood, Thomas H. Mize, Idus L. Rhodes, W. J. Moran, Laura P. Carpenter, David R. Francis, all of St. Louis, Mo., and Nathaniel Ewing, Fort Lewis, Wash., as trustees Original application January 2, 1940, Serial No.

312,012. Divided and this application November 17, 1943, Serial No. 510,834

13 Claims.

application is a division of my copending application for Coin Handling and Totaling Devices, filed January 2, 1940, and bearing Serial No. 312,012, and now issued as Patent No. 2,338,575, dated January 4, 1944.

A general object of the invention is to produce an improved coin singling and sorting mechanism susceptible of a variety of uses other than in connection with a fare box assembly as herein broadly exemplified, being the fare box fully and completely shown and described in the parent application hereinabove referred to, and further to provide in one preferred embodiment of the mechanism, as will hereinafter appear, for operator-observation of coins passing through the sorting mechanism and for operator-access to the coins therein so as to facilitate detection and removal of spurious coins inadvertently or otherwise admitted to the fare box.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision of improved power-driven mechanism for the purposes of singling and sorting coins received in the payment of fares or the like. In connection with the improved power-driven mechanism for the purposes above indicated, the present invention contemplates in one embodiment thereof, control means serving to initiate operation of the power-driven mechanism in response to the introduction of 'a coin to the coinsingling zone of the machine.

The foregoing objects and many others will clearly appear as the description proceeds, and as considered in view of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical elevation in perspective, of the fare box assembly embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1, of the upper or coin receiving section of the fare box assembly, as viewed along line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in plan, of the coin receiving section of the box, as viewed from line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section in a plane transverse to that of Fig. 2, and as viewed along line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical elevationalview of the fare trate partly in elevation and partly in section,

elements of the mechanism embodying features of the present invention;

- Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the fare box, as viewed from the stepped line 6-6 in Fi 5; r

Fig. '7 is a vertical side elevation of the box assembly, shown partly in section as'viewed from the line 1-1 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section as viewed from line 8-8 in Fig. 7, illustrating certain features of the coin singling and sorting mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of the coin singling device and coin gauge, the view being taken from line 99 in Fi 5;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, horizontal section through an upper portion of the box, illustrating a modified form of coin singling and sorting mechanism; a

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation, as taken along line I l-H of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical elevational partly in section, taken in a plane transverse to that of Fig. 11, and showing details of the modified coin sorting mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section transversely through the modified coin singling device of Fig. 10, as viewed along line I3--l3 thereof Fig. 14 is a similar fragmentary section as taken along line M-M of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a detail elevation of a cam drive for a coin control device shown in Fig. 11, the View being taken from line l5l5 of Fig. 11, and

Fig. 16 is a detail elevation of a coin sorting control device forming a part of the modification.

In the present description, in order to facilitate cross-reference between the present and parent applications, the same reference characters have been employed, insofar as applicable to both descriptions.

By way of general preliminary reference to the assembly as a whole, it is preferred to enclose the parts in a housing indicated. generally at 30, and characterized by a front wall 3|, so called since it is usually located closest to and facing the operator, side walls 32 and 33 respectively, and a rear wall 34. The housing is conveniently formed of sheet metal of substantial gauge, and is surmounted by a frusto-pyramidal portion 35, serving in turn to carry a cylindrical coin receiver 36. The latter is desirably formed of aheavy glass and is positioned by hooks 40 extended through the housing portion 35 and secured in place by suitable nuts 4|. Within the receiver is a coin chute structure 42 characterized by an improved arrangement of its elements to prevent manual access to the interior of the receiver. The chute structure includes an inverted frustoconical pan 43 projecting downwardly in the coin receiver 36 and provided with an opening 44 in the lower end thereof. The upper end of the pan preferably terminates in an, annular flange 45 which is provided with an annular recess 46 in the under surface thereof, to receive the upper margin of the cylinder 36, the flange being held beneath the hooks 40 as shown in Fig. 2; Vertically slidable on headed screws or bolts 41 secured to and depending from the lower end of the pan 43, is a relatively flattened conical member 48 which in its normal position as shown, clears the pan opening 44 sufficiently to allow coins, tokens or the like, to pass therethrough and downwardly in the coin receiver, over the member 48. If for any reason, the fare box assembly is wholly or partly inverted, as in an attempt to remove coins from the receiver 36, the conical member 48 under the action of gravity thereon, will slide toward the pan 43 with its apex portion entering the pan opening day 44, thereby effectively 'closins'v the opening against outward passage ofsuch coins as may be thereceiver."

A further provision is made in the chute structure, to'foil attempts at removal of coins from the; receiver while the fare box is'in its normal,

upright position. Such means' comprises aplu rality of hinged elements or flaps 49 which normally depend vertically fromthe periphery of the conical member 48, and are prevented from: swinging inward by inwardly directed fingers. 50 on the several elements, which abut the undersurface of the member. The lower end of each element is notched or serrated, as shown at Thus in the event coin removal is attemptedby the use of gum or other adhesive substance on the end of a cord or the like, retraction of the coin will be effectively arrested by contact of the coin with one or more of the flaps 49, the latter thereby being swung outwardly and upwardly. to span the space between the member 48 and the glass cylinder 36. The notches in the'fl'aps, of course, serve to catch and receive the'cord in one thereof, so that in the attempt to remove a coin, such coin will be directedtoward and into a position underlying the flap engaged by the cord.

In the. lower portion of the receiver cylinder 36 is a pan 52, the bottom wall 53 of which is sloped to direct. the coins toward an open neck 54 thereof. Surrounding and substantially subtending the neck 54 is a camming ring or wiper 5.5, serving as a continuation of theneckjto direct the coins. from the pan to the singling plate, later to be described... The annular wiper 55, is best seen in detail in Fig. 4, the annulus being provided with an extension 56 pivoted as by pin 88 engaging a projection 5!. on the pan 52. The projection 56 extends. beyond the pin 60 to form an. arm for receiving a spring 62 anchored also to the pan 52 in a manner to urge the opposite side of the camming ring. downwardly, .somewhat away from the pan 52, and against a. singling disc or coin carrier, tov be described. In order to aid indirecting a coin received by the pan and ring. 55, to a flat position on the singling disc, I prefer to form the ring 55 with one or more proiections G3 on its inner urface, such a projectkm or projections being formed thereon in the zone of a downwardly extending lip 65, the

lower margin of which bears against the upper surface of a singling disc 10, later to be described in detail.

As appears in Figs. 2 and 3, the bottom wall 53 of pan 52 is provided with a multiplicity of openings 66 therein, which allow dirt and particles of foreign matter entering the coin receiver 36, to drop therethrough onto a dirt-collecting plate 61 located therebelow. The plate 61 is provided with a circular flanged opening 68 to receive the lower end of the camming ring 55.

Coin singling and sorting mechanism The disc 18 is constructed to rotate in a horizontal plane beneath the plate 61, and overlies a stationary bed plate H, forming an upper journal 12 for avertical drive shaft 13, the shaft being secured axially to the disc or plate 10. The disc 10, as best appears from Fig. 9, is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed coinreceiving apertures. [4 and 15, these apertures being bevelled inwardly from their upper surface as shown at T5, the bevelled edges tapering inwardly to. a thickness of approximately thirty thousandths inch, being about the gauge of a worn ten-cent piece. This precludes, as .will appear, the carryin of more than one coin, even though it be of minimum thickness. The ar rangement is such that as the coin is deposited in the top of chute 42 and falls into pan 5!, it is'directed into the ring 55 and falls onto projection 83'. It is caused thereby to lie flat in a horizontal plane in the bottom of that one of the disc openings or apertures 14 and 15 which is next brought-under'and in register with the ring 55. Since the plate It, except for its coin discharge aperture [1 (Fig. 8), constitutes a bottom for each of the coin-receiving recesses of the disc 'Ifl-,--the coin will be moved in a horizontal plane; until it falls or is-ejected, as later described, from its position in the singling disc 18. The projection 63 and lip 55 have been so designed and located as a result of numerous experiments, and so coact as practically to assure the deposit of the coin in flat horizontal position in the singling disc. Since the coin is impelled in the disc only by abutment of one of the thin arcuate edges IS-withthe edge of the coin, any more than one such'coin, even though it be a thin ten cent piece, will be wiped out of the coin seat 14 or 15 by the lip 55' of the spring loaded wiper ring. In-

this manner the disc and ring coact to prevent the movement of more than one coin at a time, to the position of discharge.

Discussing briefly now the manner of driving the shaft 13, and referring particularly to Figs. 5' and 6, I prefer to utilize an electric motor T9 arranged in the lower portion of the fare box 38, and the operation of which is controlled by a suitable line switch 88 (Fig. 1) having its switch-actuatin element 8| accessible from the exterior of the fare box, as shown. The motor is operatively connected to a reduction gear assembly (not shown), housed in a gear box 83, the latter in turn being suitably drivingly connected to the lower end of a shaft 86 which extends vertically above the gear housing (Fig. 5), the lower end of the shaft 86 being suitably journa'lled (not shown) within the gear box. The upper end 88 (Fig. 6) of the shaft 86 is suitably journalled (not shown) in a horizontal plate 89 (Fig. 5) forming a part of the fare box frame, and projects thereabove to provide for connection. of a drive pinion 98 thereto, as shown in Fig.6. This element enmcshes with a relatively amass large diameter' gear wheel 9-! operative-lysecured .L! to thelowerend -92 ef 'the 'shaft 13, to efiect ithe drive therefor. As appears-in Fig-E fS, the shaft 13 at itslOWerendQ-Z; is journalled i-n 'the fr-ame' plate 89 ait 93f 5 Referring =further to the actior'i of the 'coih ais it is brought into oneotthe recesses in the singlin'g 'disd 1 HQ-"the projection 63 internally of the-Ting 55 and in the""zone-of the doWnward-ly fl projecting-lip 6'5 thsr'eot-hasthe effect-of carn ming 'thecoindownwardly into a horizontal 'po- SitidII,".iI1 casedt has not originally assumed such a position?"-The"'coin;havingbeen deposited in one of the singling'discopenings; say-14 -(Figs"; 2, 3 and 9), when such opening "mastery-with 15 the ringafiti ?(the=;1position--0f iring1&5 welativevto the,.disc. 1 !l in plan elevation, being shown in. Figlfllj'y thelbrdken line circle there 'designatby theQ-lnumeral, 55)'., 'Wi11 be carriedby rotation" of disd'lllfito thep'osition occupied by the op I. ing yer-recess .15 "as shown in EigQiQ, 'at';which ;i' position is. located .a. coinrgadge presently' to be described... Beyond .the latter .position', the [coin will enga e a. bov'iz spring 100 appearing in Fig? 5 andaalsomshownin broken lines inFigl 8, the-T coin:,-'having .been moved in theildirection shown i by thearrow ..(Figl 9-) to thefpesition of the. disfichargesporti Ill. .-.As .best: appears. from. FigJ'IB, thelihowe-sprin is carried'lJay .the lupper .deckfl. plate. 5.1 in a: position-to overlie lthedischarge I port- 11, such that-riches coin. vin iengaging theie same, is turned edgewise intoachute therefor]. hereinafter-described... In 9, the .locatiom of the.--discharge..port..'il relativeito the disc] andtto the coin-gauge shown at H33. and here-i .3 inafter described, is clearly shown .by the broken: line ,circleat the lowerend of the.figure.,.,desig-., natedmby thev numerall'l. Durin 'iitsdisplace-f ment bye-the disc....'i,0,'the,.coin, or token. .(the..1., terms..hei:ein being'employed -.interchangeab1y) A willhengage onitsperipheryha non-yielda'ble stopi .10 I T.(Fig.'.9.) carried by and vprojecting 11 1 ward ly' 'frompthe'jplate l I. The opposite 'periph-T eral. portion of thel'coin lflZIwill be brought [to bear against almoyable gaugev element I03 which is displaceda greater'or less distanceoutW'ardIy of thaxis of the"disc,i aceording'to the'diar'n-t eteri of thecoi'nl" According to the presentexem-" plary.disclosnre and as'best a'ppearslfrom Figs; 5, Band 9, the rotary disc 10 is annularly iindercut as at 98;i'n order that" the disc may clear thegauge element wsfand so that an edge of a coin may engage the'element 931w actuate the same'lifor a purpose presentlyito appear; :Fur-F therpthedisc 1B in the hub zone thereof, is pro: vided" with arcuate slots or grooves; 99 to ac-" commndat "the fixed stop 8 I upstanding; on 21:,v plate Tl opposite'the gauge .103 .(Figffl) as the) diso "rotates; The" position'of stop in l is such: that'it will be exposed forlengagement'bya coin"in one'of the openings 14 and .15 in disc "1 10, as one or the other of theopenings approaches"? thezone .of the-""stopand gaugel 03,6125 thisis illustratedc'learly in Fig'T-Q. .A vertic'alxsidef elevation of 'the'mov'able gauge I03 is shownby Figs'f5 andi8, and it is. constrained to a' straight? line1atera1"-movement hyfa guide recess MA formed in thehed'pla'te H to receivethegauger: The"gauge lfi3 connected to a movableicoin' ;i"

chute 'swing'ably rnounted about a. pivot 06;: .9 theeonnection being'made'through a linkage assembiy including 'a lever ID? pivoted intermedi= ateits ends; abodt'a pinfl-fiwcarriedby lugs-[109' formed-internally of 'thifhousing'll.--fThe*up h pere'nd *of "the lever 0 his op erati'vely associat-* fialll-iwiHUIIBYEIYTESSHIOBI6Wi1311621313116 of the be 6 ed with the"gaugeaos whreu h the pin and-fislot conneotioii H ii as shoW-n; such'what'the trans latory movement- 0f the g'au-ge-will result iri pivota1- n iovem'ent 'of the-lever. A'I'o the lower end lllef thelever and on 'one side thereof; is piv otally 'onnecte'd ohe end lfl of alink elementh' ll3fithe opposite end l l d of the latterbeing' in turng'pivo tal-ly connected 'as' at M5; to the'swin'g able chute I05 as bestaaippearsin Figs. =6 and 8. *The foregoing pivotal connection is 'effeC'- tiveso as freely to translate the straight line movement of; the eauge to an arcuate rnovement-= of theifcoiirhuter Theqpath" of "thechute l5" is-such that 'its discharge or deliveiyiiend may-be brought selec tively'iinto-"register with the-receiving ends 0f the fixedicoinc'hutes" H01 1 28A, I2fiBfl2fiCfl20Df IZUEyandof a somewhat enlarged chamber or 1 pocket I201? located. externally of an-diimmedi ately-"beyond"thefchute: 5-! 20; and J provided-fork i receiving lanypbject smaller. in diameter than? the s'mallest coin or'tokenreceived in "the? fare. box;- ".The""chutes. number l 20, f l 20E "which "are 1 1 of rctangularltran'sverse section as'will" appear. in Fig's'lifi and 8; are" directed downwardly'and toward; theiffrontvvall'm of thehousing siljsuch 1 that'..the"lovien'bpen'ends "thereof niayhr egist f V with'ldoin receiving openings 1 2! in correspond ing magazines 122- 1231} ('Fi'gs". 1, 7 and 8) "of 2? preferably detachable money. changer. v

Fro'rh'; the ioregoingi it will. appear. that the". movablejchute 1.05 is positioned ...by movement, of theLeoin'fgangeto discharge above, the .fixedgl. chute ,apprc'zp'riate to. receive. such coin,fl;the. chute 4 .beihg.litilizedafor.example; for sma11..t'okens;.... I 20A'ffbrfiimes, 2913301". pennies. l 2 Cf ionlar'ge i tokens, 1.2 0D'j'for,.five.cent pieces. and i2 QEQfor A quarters...f. .Th .exact numbernof the fixed. chutes and-magazines wilt. depend: upoi the particular, 'requireinentsi'o'f service-..,,

In theeusewof tare boxes in vpublicqcar rier.ve hicles atte'rnptse are. not infrequently. made by .i unscrupulous/employees. to remove. coins .by 1 in- 5: versionio'f the .boX; =..vThisAhasabeen. referred to i hereinbef ore in connection withwthe 1 adaptation of thetchute-.--strueture.32 in the veoin.receiver =3.6,..to .zpreaent.@theiremovalcof coins-Fin suchmmanneizze However-wan additional,(device. forathwarting.suchmattemptsais embodied in a. r: safetm ball:l =23firnormallyiretainedwin a. pocket HAP-therefor; married rby -.thechute .52. In z casee-r. the.box-.i-s; tiltedabeyond a criticaleangle; theiballvr falls iromvtheqholdere25,randthereafter to a position :0IlB--f0,f 13116. 1-16085865 .of the singlingw 'disd (Fi 4) ,s; andvso prevents any: additiona coinsepassing :t-hrougle :the. 56180: until the i'b-all -i's restored 2'60 thezizpoeket; -,='I he relative sizes of the zhalb andiapentums 12:14-45,- as :well as aper; ture:-.I.25 in 'the'zbed..plate'ft'l, eare :suchv that the;

say a 25; piecep'wheni received. in the L lenienti T-fl aand as (displaced thereby,- wili nrst eneounter the'ficoim gauge 0-3 by abu-t r'nent' of a beiielledf'oi 'camming surf ace IZG theIe I of and Will dontifiife to displace -the felerrient 103 untilit ocoiipies th outermost lirriit of its'move merit-By easdriof 'suheiitrerne range of gaug' movement, 'he deli vr y end 'o-f chute lfl5-willilia moiid throiigh its Qglrate'si',"range, or to a -pos'iti'om 7 opposite the chute I20E. After the coin has cleared the gauge and has been delivered through the chute I05, the gauge is returned to its initial position shown in Fig. 9, this return movement being effected by a spring I21 (Fig. which is operatively associated with the gauge in a manner presently to be described. It is to be noted here and as clearly appears in Fig. 8, that when the gauge is disposed in its initial position, the delivery end of the coin chute I05 will be thereby 8 of the fare box assembly as fully illustrated in the application hereinbefore noted, of which this application is a division.

It will have been observed that the device according to the embodiment thus far described, is completely operative for the purpose of singling the coins, carrying them in flat singled relation,

. and discharging them, each into its appropriate positioned in register with the receiving end of V the chamber or pocket IF. Hence, upon the introduction of a coin or any other object, as a button, smaller in size or diameter than the smallest coin or token to be received and sorted by the device, such object will not displace the gauge, but will be delivered directly into the chute and thence pass into the chamber -I 20F, for later removal.

Action of the spring I21 for returning the gauge I03, as well as the chute I05, to initial position. is delayed for a predetermined time following coin-positionment of the gauge, so that the chute I05 may be retained in gauge-actuated position at least until the coin therein is delivered from the chute I05 into one of the underlying coinchutes. The delay in the gauge return function of spring I21 may be effected in any desired manner, but as here preferred, it is accomplished as follows:

Referring to Fig. 5, the spring I21 is coiled about an arm I42 having pivotal connection at one end, to the gauge arm I01. One end of the spring is pinned or otherwise fixed to the arm I42, while its opposite end bears against a stationary member I43. Thus it will appear that the spring is thereby effective to urge the arm I42 and hence the lower end of lever or arm I01, toward the left as viewed in the figure, so that arm I01, being pivoted intermediate its ends, as at I08, may displace the gauge I03 to its inward or coin-engaging position, as shown in Fig. 5. Arm I42 is projected through member I43 (Figs. 5, 6 and '1) and is urged upwardly therein against a roller I45, by a spring I41. Notches or teeth I are provided along the lower margin of arm I42 for coaction with a pivoted, spring-loaded pawl I 5I carried by member I43, the pawl being effective against the teeth I50 to retain the arm I42 in gauge-actuated position, when the arm I42 is somewhat depressed. Means for depressing the arm I42 in timed relation to the coin-effected gauge positionment of the arm against the return-force of spring I21, is found in a cam element I39 driven in timed relationship with singling disc shaft 13 through a vertical camshaft I36 to which the cam is fixedly secured, and camshaft gear l38 enmeshing pinion 90 on shaft 88. Cam I39 is adapted for engagement with the outer or free end of pivoted arm I42, through a friction-reducing roller I on the arm, such engagement occurring only when arm I42 is projected by gauge actuation, so as to bring its roller I4I within the path of the cam surf-ace or camming lip I52-I40 of the cam. At such time, the cam serves to depress arm I 42 so as to engage the pawl I5I with the teeth I50, whereby to hold the arm I42 in its gauge-actuated position until released by further action of the cam I39, such as to permit upward, pawl-disengaging movement of the arm I42, the latter occurring when or after a coin in chute I05 has been delivered into one of the coin-chutes hereinbefore described. Camdepression of arm I42 when in gauge-actuated position, may be utilized to effect or initiate by means of the arm, operation of other mechanism receiver or magazine of th changer I22. The changer I22 may be of conventional form, such that the several coin magazines are each provided with a coin-receiving mouth or chute numbered I28, I28A through I28E, accessible externally of the fare box for direct insertion of coins in the money changer.

Modified coin singling and sorting device There may be employed in a fare box of. the

character herein indicated, a somewhat modified coin singling and sorting mechanism, which accomplishes the same result attained by the singling and sorting device hereinbefore described, but in a different and yet improved manner. The modified device for example, enables the car-op-. erator to follow and check or remove spurious coins during the sorting process of the machine. Additionally, provision is made therein for initiating operation of the motor 19 from which all of the operating parts of the machine are driven. solely in response to the reception of a coin in the coin-singling zone of the singling device. These and further improvements will become anparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 10 and 11,

and to Fig. 2 for reference to the coin-receiving and directing plate 52 as appears therein, th coin plate 52 in the present modification is by preference, arranged somewhat lower in the box housing, such that its coin-discharge end 54 is disposed within the frusto-pyramidal housing section 35 (Fig. 1) and adjacent one wall thereof. In register with the circular discharge aperture provided by the plate end 54 and depending therefrom, is a tubular member or coin-receiving conduit 550 (Fig. 11) the lower end 55! of which engages and rests upon a surface portion of a plate-like member 552 seated in an aperture 553 (Fig. 13) provided therefor, in a horizontal bed plate 554, the location of the member being inwardly adjacent the housing side wall 33, as appears in Fig. 10. The member 552 is formed to present opposite laterally projecting flanges 555 (Fig. 13) which seat upon the adjacent margins of the bed plate and through which the member is secured to the plate, as by screws 556 (Figs. 10, 13 and 14). Extending centrally and longitudinally inwardly from one end 551 of the member 552, is a channel 558, adapted for the reception of a coin-singling plunger or slide 559 which is retained for reciprocal movement therein, by guide flanges 560 formed on the member and closely overlying the plunger when engaged in the channel. The forward or coin-engaging end 56I of the plunger is bevelled as shown in Fig. 11, to present a coin-contacting edge 552 of a thickness corresponding to the gauge of say, a worn ten-cent piece which may be introduced to the machine. Thus the plunger is adapted for contact with but one coin at a time. The lower end portion of the tubular member 550 adjacent the plunger channel, is undercut as at 563, so that the slide may pass thereunder and over the surface portion 564 of the member 552, which underlies the tubular coin conduit 559. In order to assure the singling and discharge of but one coin at a time, from the coins collecting in the 9 a l ondiiit 55])"ind 'res tin "the the iirfaq'e'" therebelow; the lower 0 'c'lu tend' portion whigh overlies thoin disiihafrgesurfaoe SBS:of member 552*{55 uniireu't-as shown in Fig. 11.; lteleasably cloin'g the op'riing'i'e'sultif o'ln underontting the tubular in eii'ih er inthe zone indie t ueiexe ne ii fie e sw f e ic yzt i fin e me Ht 5 p s 9? stixjclstfi]: Col pl sprinesfsfili'enbi raljp n 561;,fs

Actuation of the-plunger 559 for-reciprocating motemeiit'thereonis efr etedfromthemotor 19 (Fig: 5-) through a vertical drive shaftsssjdiifnailed in beafing'hrack'ets" 510; The sharttss cories hnds' ir'i purphsegte thesh'aft13 of the singling fnechanis'm shown 'by'Fig. 5'; and hence, it niay be drivenfrorh the motor 19 throug'li 'a connection (not shown heijei whidh'ni'ay pe Similar' to that providedfor shaft 13; *To theupper end of shaft"569is' operatively-secured a wheel 51!, the-wheelhaving pivlotztllysecured uponit's upper surface and adjacent theperiphery thereof,

oneend of a plunger opera'tinglifik 512;the'piV otal con-hectionbeing'effected in thepres'ent" ex? ample by a; pin 513; The opposite end of link'ElZ is similarlypivotally'connected to the rear or trail-'- ingend'of'theplungeryas by avpin 514:" The arrangement is such that for each'full revolution of the-shaft andwhee1-569i51l;'the plunger. 559 will 'be reciprocated once; between the'limitsiof its travel. TheFnormalor initial' .position:of the plunger'is thatshow'nby :Fig: 10;wherein it is retracted fromben'eath the pain conduit 550.

Energization of the motor 19, for operation of the coin-singling and 'sorting mechanism; aswell as other elements of the fare box, such as register ing and recmding mechanism-(not shown) is controlled from the e oin-receiving surface portion 564 of member 552, by rn tor-cireuit controlling s wt de c bed I Em edde in the Ihmlief 5 $9 e to e eed c nt el' y: f the Sfirfac 5. h e eretee tef t e ements. 51 each ri qi' e n ath the e h r. 552E229: vid'e terminals 516 foreonnectiqnin controlling fla'tien-to t the P w cir u t fiz pt hqwek: The arrangement of these eontaqts in th m[ tQ I dirciiit such' h time eu e n QIWEiYQQ i t fare d IQm F rre t whee, up n the! m i of ti ti de ice .ith lceie heinimetallieend" further, in nearly all cases; haiaeteri'ze'd' 'b'y metal of good electr 4 ductivitv'wiHervthere db'lidgthe rmnta s and hence, to feomple'te' 'the niot ii chem; therethrough". Ijlni's, motor fopr'ation eme; iriiti .l teith ji i f and de m h l w r q en t w rd an a ooin sortin'g jevice pre sentlyjo' .app'

order tefc tin eftif fqiqer 1O a H t. thin r bit t i s in ti l. tion; i fiii yfe h s glin .o th x will 13 11 1 8 Q q b i d i l t wil Qbmfi lfili h emb ded n .11 unde S I iQQ-b th P i er: 59, e. t um -br dgi l t "5" i adaptecl ahd so' located'es to bridge .the contaets before the coin providing the initial contactbridge "is displaced therefrom; The plate 5]] th ir erves to niainta'in t motor circuit closed tun n the sin l n -end 90 n eiesa e un t n lot the plun er; In unt l t e p n er iss ahfi .1 returned t' initial position. Itwill be observed h the' oircuit is' opened' atjc'o'ntacts' 515, just 9 thejullieturn' oi the plunger, but'the w momentum thenj existing' will complete the plunger returh'; as willpeappreeiated. Alsopand for reasonsnow readily apparent, the "com eondu lt l5itlp neen a e member 552 a'nd o'p' tionally; the sing1ifig'fin ers1566, are formed from s it b insulating material, as hard rubber, elie i io e ke r l goin is singled and ejeoted from the singling zone, Joy the plunger 559, it is thereby d s laced. pverthe' Surface 565 or'merhbe'r '55: and herijeathrafguide platef5l3 overlying the surface sss gFigs 10, 11,.and 14), toward and into a tapered, coin-receivingrinouth or chute 579 of the coin sorting mechanism denote(i generally, the numeraliilll (Fig; 11). However, before the Coin isdis'charged into the chute 519, a mar gin'al' portion of the coin contacts a roller 58! journalled on a fixed pin 582, the roller providing one element otc' oin-gau'ge' mechanism now to ap ea Immediately prior to or as the ogin eohtaetsthe rgller' 58L it engages on another peripheral portion' thereof, a roller 583 carried on one end of a pivoted. lever 584, located to QHQfSid Of the line of coin-travel from the singling zone. The lever 584 pivoted intermediate its e'njdsgas at 585, 'will'be pivoted in a eloek: wis e direction as viewed Fig. 10, as the coin ab'uts' the roller 583 thereon, the pivotal movenient of the lever Continuing until the coin attains', a lpositiondiametrally between the rollers 58! and. 58$..f'1h extent to' whieh the lever i thus pivoted; to the pointwherethe coin is located diametrallyj between. the. rollers; thus pruvides an index as to the diameter. of the coin,

, and1hen c'e"of, its denomination. Thus the eve fij8d and its roller 583h 'onst'itute a coin g auge which e'orresponole'jin purpose; to the coin gauge lil3 her "nbefore escribed and'as shown by Figs.

5 and Aocorclingly, the lever 584 is utilized for opei rig elerne'nts of the coin sorting meeha-Q nisn jfafily'asjwiltpresently appear. It is to be note'cllas a preference in the present example of the j rno clifiegl coinsingling structure, that the coin gauge arm 58 end tsre'uer 58,3; the roller Sillihfid the giilide' pl'ate 578,a11 are formed jroin iitflkiinsulfating material, as hard 1 rubber,

Bakelite, or tl'ielil ze' Also; as shown by Fig, vJ 4 in particulja ya portion of the plate'rnemberffifl s. path a as ,a p'fitfii'te aw m at t e gauge'ro1ler 583 'an'd'the by, to fa'ci t entationg 0 De il? arranged stub shaft 552, end extede l git 554. Fixedl'y con below the plate 554 is another crank arm 593, the outer end of which is visible through the break 554a in the plate 554. A yoke 594 is connected to the outer end of arm 593 by a pin 594a and slot 5941). Arm I 42a, corresponding to arm I42 of Figure 5, has a pivoted connection with the yoke 594 as by means of a pin 5940, the arm [42a being guided in a vertical plane by the side guide plates 594d or the like. The spring [21a associated with the crank arm 590 as illustrated in Figure 10, functions in the present modified mechanism as a return spring for urging the gauge lever 584 into its initial position shown in Fig. 10, Also, the desired delay in the return action of spring 121a is effected in the present embodiment, through arm I42 in the manner hereinbefore described and as illustrated by Fig. 5.

Turning now to the coin sorting mechanism 580, for the purpose of the present example, it is adapted for sorting and delivery of coins of but five different sizes, to a detachable money changer 595 (Fig. 12) having a corresponding number of coin chambers, as the chambers 595A for quarters, 59513 for nickels, 595C for pennies, 59513 for dimes and 595E for tokens of one given size (Fig. 12). The changer 595 here employed, may correspond in type and structure to the changer shown by Fig. 1, differentiating therefrom only in that it provides but a single token chamber instead of the two for different size tokens, in the latter changer. However, it is to be understood that the presently modified sorting mechanism may be readily adapted to the six-chambered changer I22, or to any other changer providing a desired number of coin receiving chambers.

The device 580 includes a coin-chute structure 596 of plate-like form, which is arranged in a vertical plane and. located above and in vertical registry with the coin-receiving openings of the changer 595, the plate structure further extending between the opposite side walls 32 and 33 of fare box housing (Fig. 12). The structure 596 is formed to provide in an upper corner thereof, a coin-receiving throat 591 with which is registered the coin passage 598 in a member 599 providing the coin-receiving mouth 519, the latter being in line with the discharge zone of the singling mechanism, as before described. As appears in Figs. and 11, the tapered mouth 519 is so adapted as to turn a coin received therein, for vertical edgewise delivery thereof downwardly in the passage 598, in which relative position the coin thence proceeds through the sorting device.

The structure 596 is formed further, to provide in communication with the throat 591, a downwardly inclined coin-passage 600 which terminates at the opposite plate end BM, in a vertical coin-chute 602 extending downwardly through the lower edge 603 of the structure. The coinreceiving mouth 519, passage 598, throat 591, inclined passage 600 and chute 602 are all of a size sufiicient to accommodate the largestdiameter coin handled by the machine, as a quarter, while the downward inclination of the passage 600 is such that the coins admitted to the sorting device, may gravitate downwardly therein. A series of openings 604, 605, 606, and 601 (right to left in Fig. 12) are provided in the bottom or lower margin 608 of the passage 600, through which vertical coin-chutes 609, M0, 6H and 6| 2 respectively, communicate with the passage 600. The arrangement is such that the opening 604 and the communicating chute 609 which substantially underlie the coin throat 591, are of a size to receive tokens of a given diameter; the next adjacent opening 605 and its chute 610 of a size to receive dimes; the next opening 606 and chute 6 of a size to accommodate onecent pieces or pennies; the next opening 601 and its chute N2 of a size to receive nickels, and the last chute 602 as before described, of a size to accommodate quarters. The lower open ends of the several chutes then register with the corresponding coin chambers of the changer 595 therebelow, as the quarter chute 602 with the quarter chamber 595A, the nickel chute 6I2 with the nickel chamber 59513, and so on through the series.

In order to direct a coin of a given size or denomination, into the particular one of the coinchutes provided for receiving the same, a coinchute control device 620 is associated with the chute structure and is operated from and in response to operation of the coin gauge 584. For this purpose, a slot 62! is provided laterally through the chute structure 596 and along the lower margin 608 of the passage 600, through which may be projected a stepped end section 622 of a control plate 623. The plate 623 suitably supported for displacement toward or away from the slot 62 I, has its stepped section arranged so that when the plate is moved from an initial position outwardly of the slot 62 l, to a predetermined position, the forwardmost step 624 will project over the opening 604 to the token chute 609, hence closing this chute to the entrance of a coin therein, but permitting a coin to pass over the step and downwardly in the passage 600 to a lower chute. Further movement of the control plate to another predetermined position, will serve to bring the next adjacent step 625 over the opening 605 to coin chute 6I0, thus closingoff this chute as well as the first chute 609, but permitting a coin to pass through passage 600 to a lower chute. In a similar manner, further successiv movements of the control plate through the slot 62l, will effect through its steps 626 and 621, successive closures of the chute openings 606 and 601, and hence, when all of the openings 604-601 are thus closed, the only chute remaining open to receive coins will be the last or quarter chute 602.

' Operation of the control plate 623 is effected from the coin gauge lever 584 through a drive now to appear. Slidably supported by a bracket 628, is a bar 629 suitably connected at one end, to the plate 623, and provided with gear teeth 629A on its opposite side portion, thus providing a gear rack. Enmeshing with the rack is a gear 630 which is journalled in brackets 63! secured to and depending from the bed plate 554. The bed plate 554 is apertured in the zone of the gear 630 as at 632, through which the gear projects so as to be exposed above the plate (Fig. 11). The location of the gear 630 is such, as appears in Fig. 10, that it closely parallels the bar 588 of the coin gauge device, and further, such that the exposed end of the gear lies relatively adjacent the bar. The bar and gear are operatively connected by a suitable, lost-motion type of connection, as at 633, the arrangement of the connection being such that longitudinal reciprocating movement of the bar 588, as effected by th coin-gauging and return movements of the gauge lever 584, will produce a corresponding rocking movement of the gear 630. The latter then, through the gear rack 629A, effects a corresponding reciprocating move- 66!, is such as to prevent stoppage of the shaft 569 in theevent the plate 655 becomes jammed or is abnormally held in retracted position. The lyieldable shaft drive connection to the plate also serves to permit manual retraction of the latter when desired, as accomplished by means now to be described.

As shown by Fig. 11, provision is made for stoppage of a, coin in its chute by means operable independently of the delay-plate 655, and as controlled from the exterior of the fare box. A plate member 610 which may be somewhat similar to the plate 655, is arranged in the housing recess 650, oppositely to and in the plane of the plate 655. The plate 610 as manually controlled from the exterior of the machine, by a finger piece 61 l is normally retracted from chuteclosing position, to permit full operation of the automatically actuated delay-plate 655. However, when an operator desires to stop a coin in the chute structure, the control plate 610 may be then manually displaced inwardly against the plate 655, to retract the latter and to close the chutes independently thereof. Such retraction of plate 655 is readily permitted by the spring connection EM and without affecting operation of the drive shaft 569, as pointed out hereinabove. Further, the manually controlled coin-stop plate 610 serves an additional purpose, in that it enables the operator to effect discharge of the last coin received in the chute structure immediately prior to or at the time the machine is cut out of operation, as at the end of the day or run. Such is effected by inward movement of plate 616 to retract the plate 655 from its chute closing position, whereupon a rapid retraction of plate 610 will open the chutes to allow the last coin to pass to its proper plate of deposit in the money changer. The discharge of the last coin occurs as above indicated, by reason of the fact that the plate 655 as displaced from chute-closing position by plate 610, will be momentarily retarded in its return movement under the influence of spring 56!, by the counter-force of the spring 668, the delay thus effected being sufficient to permit full discharge of the coin.

The operation of the modified singling and sorting mechanism and the several provisions for coin-control in connection with the coin-receiving chute structure of the sorting mechanism, is believed to be now fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts and operation thereof, and hence, to require no further detailed description,

While the invention has been described by making specific reference to presently selected embodiments thereof, the detail of the description is to be understood solely in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, since numerous variations are possible within the spirit of the intended scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for receiving and handling coins of different denomination, a coin-receiving receptacle, a coin-receiving and sorting mechanism spaced from said receptacle, a coin-engaging plunger cyclically operable through said receptacle for conveying coins therefrom to said sorting mechanism, a device for gauging the coins, operable by movement of a coin as efiected by the plunger, said coin sorting mechanism being directly actuated by said coin gauge device, for sorting coins delivered thereto, plunger actuating means, first control means for said actuating means effective in response to the reception of a 16 coin in said receptacle and operable to initiate the operation of said actuating means, and second control means positioned by said plunger in its cyclic movement to maintain said first control meanseffective after the coin leaves the receptacle and until said plunger substantially completes its cyclic movement.

2. In a device for receiving and handling coins of different denomination, a coin-receiving receptacle, a coin storing device spaced from said receptacle, a coin-engaging plunger reciprocable from an initial position, through said receptacle for conveying a coin therefrom to said storing device, powered actuating means for said plunger, control means for said actuating means, arranged in said receptacle and effective in response to a coin in the receptacle, for initiating operation of said powered actuating means, and means on said plunger coacting with said control means during plunger reciprocation, for continuing operation of said actuating means until the return of the plunger to said initial position.

3. In a device for receiving and handling coins of different denomination, a coin-receiving receptacle, a coin receiving and sorting device spaced from said receptacle, a coin-engaging plunger reciprocable from an initial position, through said receptacle for conveying a coin therefrom to said sorting device, a device for gauging the coins, operable by movement of a coin as effected by said plunger, said coin sorting device being directly actuated by said coin gauge device, for sorting coins delivered thereto, powered actuating means for said plunger, control means for said actuating means, arranged in said receptacle and effective in response to the reception of a coin in the receptacle, for initiating operation of said powered actuating means, and means on said plunger coacting with said control means during plunger reciprocation, for continuing operation of said actuating means until the return of the plunger to said initial position.

4. In a device for receiving and sorting coins of different denomination, a coin receptacle, means providing a coin-discharge aperture spaced from said receptacle, a member operable for displacing coins from the receptacle to and into said discharge aperture, coin-singling means operatively associated with said receptacle and displacing member, efiective to prevent displacement of more than one coin at a time by said member, a coingauge element positionable responsively to coin displacement from the receptacle and in accordance with coin-dimension, means providing a plurality of coin-passages near said discharge aperture, means under control of said coin-gauge element for establishing coin-delivery communication between the discharge aperture and said coin-passages selectively, as determined by coineffected positionment of the gauge element, actuating means for said displacing member, first control means in said receptacle and responsive to a coin in said receptacle for initiating the movement of said actuating means, and second control means movable with said displacing member to maintain said first control means efiective after the coin leaves the receptacle and until said displacing member returns substantially to initial position.

5. In a device for receiving and handling coins of different denominations, a coin receptacle, means for displacing coins singly from the receptacle, means providing a coin-aperture spaced from the receptacle and in the path of coin-displacement therefrom and adapted for the pasgarages? chutesand selectively positionable to close oneor' more of the chutes, a coin-gauge extendinginto the path of coin-displacement from the receptacle and swing-able by coin abutnrent there with toa position determined by at least one dimension of the coin, and means for translating swinging movement of said coin-gauge to= sii'ding movement of said'closurem'eans for operating the closure means soas to position the latter selec' tiveiy in accordance with the coin-positioning oi said coin-gauge.

6- In a device-forreceiving and handling coins" of diiferent denominations; a coinreceptacle, means for displacing coins singly from the re-- ceptacleg means providing-a coin-aperture spaced from the receptacle and in the path of coin-displacement therefrom and adapted for the passage ofi coins therethizough, means; providing a, dowm Wardly inclined passage extending from the aperture, means providing a. plurality oicoin-chutes extending from the inclined passage and spaced in tandem along the passage, chute closure means m'ovably arranged relative to said chutes and selectivel-y'posi-tionable toclose one or more of the chutes, acoi'n-gauge extending into the pathof coin-displacement from the-receptacle andswingable by coin-abutment therewith to a position de term-ined by at least one dimension of the coin, and means operatively connecting the coin-gauge to the closure means so that positioning of the closure means can be effected in response to movement of the coin-gauge in accordance with coin positioning of said coin-gauge.

'7. In a device for receiving and handling coins of difierent denominations, a coin receptacle, means for displacing coins singly from the receptacle, means providing a coin-aperture spaced from the receptacle and in the path of coin-displacement therefrom and adapted for the passage of coins therethrough, means providing a plurality of coin-chutes arranged in tandem, means providing a passage for said coins extending from the coin-aperture and over the open ends of all of the coin-chutes, chute closure means movably arranged relative to said chutes, and selectively positionable to close one or more of the chutes so as to form a floor for said closed chute over which the coins may travel, a coingauge extending into the path of coin-displacement from the receptacle and swingable by coinabutment therewith to a position determined by at least one dimension of the coin, and means for operatively connecting the coin-gauge to the closure means so that the position of the latter may be effected selectively in response to movement of the coin-gauge in accordance with coin-displacement of said coin-gauge.

8. In a device for receiving and handling coins of diiTerent denominations, a coin receptacle, means for displacing coins singly from the receptacle, means providing a coin-aperture spaced from the receptacle and in the path of coin-displacement therefrom and adapted for the passage of coins therethrough, means providing a downwardly inclined passage extending from the aperture, means providing a plurality of coinchutes extending from the inclined passage and spaced in tandem along the passage, a chute closure member slidably arranged relative to said chutes and positionable to close one or more of said chutes, and means including a gear and rack device; for translating swinging movement of said coin-gauge to sliding movement of said clos-- urememberto position the latter selectively, as determined by the coin-positioningof said coi'rr-- gaugeiorciosingo-ne or more-oithechutes-i 9. In a deviceforreceiving and sorting coins of different denominations; a coin receptacle 1 nreansproviding a coin discharge aperturespaced from said receptacle; a member operable for dis-* placing coins from the receptacle to and into said discharge aperture; coin-singling means operatively associated with said receptacle and displac ing member, eflective to prevent displacement of more than one coin at a time by said member, a coin-gauge element'positionabie responsivelyto coin displacement from the rec p in cordance with coin-dimension, means providing a plurality of coin-passagesnear said" discharge aperture; means under control of said coin-gaugeelement' for" establishing coin-delivery com-muni cation betweenthe discharge aperture and said coin passages selectively, as determined by coineiiectedpositionm'ent of the gauge element, ac

tuating means for said displacing member; and? control means engageable first by coins received in the receptacle and secondly by the displacing" member in itsmovement for initiating and" coirti'nuing operation of said actuating means so-longf' as a coin is present in said receptacle, the coins" received in the receptacle being eii'ective upon engagement with thecontrol means for initiating;

operatibn of the actuating means and the dis placing member being effective upon engagement with the control means for continuing operation of said actuating means until said displacing member has substantially completed a cycle and returned to its initial position, said control means being effective to cause cessation in the operation of said actuating means following displacement by said member of a last coin in the receptacle, and the return of said member substantially to its initial position.

10. In a device for receiving and sorting coins of different denominations, a coin receptacle, means providing a coin-discharge aperture spaced from said receptacle, a coin-displacing member cyclically movable from a retracted position to an advanced position and back again, coin-singling means operatively associated with said receptacle and displacing member, efiective to prevent displacement of more than one coin at a time by said member, a coin-gauge element positionable responsively to coin-displacement from the receptacle and in accordance with coin-dimension, means providing a plurality of coin-passages near said discharge aperture, means under control of said coin-gauge element for establishing coin-delivery communication between the discharge aperture and said coin-passages selectively, as determined by coin-effected positionment of the gauge element, actuating means for said displacing member, and control means for the actuating means including contact members engageable by a coin in the receptacle when the coin-displacing member is retracted and by the displacing member when the latter is advanced, the operation of the actuating means being initiated by the coins and being continued by the coin displacing member upon engagement of the contacts by the displacing member until the displacing member returns to its retracted position, the operation of the actuating means ceasing 19 when the displacing member is in its retracted position.

11. In a device for receiving and handling coins; a coin receiving receptacle; a coin storage receptacle; cycling means operable to move a coin from said receiving receptacle towards said storage receptacle; a first control for said means operable to initiate action of said means in response to the reception of a coin in said receiving receptacle; and a second control for said means, operable by said means in its movement to continue the activation of said means after displacement of the coin from said receiving receptacle and until said means has returned substantially to its initial position.

12. In a device for receiving and handling coins; a coin receiving receptacle having a supportadapted to receive coins singly or in stacked relationship; a coin storage receptacle; a device for transferring a coin from the bottom of said receiving receptacle to said storage receptacle, said device being constructed and arranged to uncover said support in an initial position but to cover said support while transferring a coin therefrom; singling means adjacent said support to prevent the transfer of more than one coin at a time; actuating means for said device; control means engageable by a coin resting upon said support to initiate operation of said actuating means and subsequently engageable by said transfer device in its movement before and after complete disengagement by the transferred coin to continue operation of said actuating means until the coin has been completely transferred and said support again uncovered by said transfer device.

13. In a device for handling coins, a coin supporting means adapted to support coins singly or in stacked relationship; a device for removing the bottommost coin from said support, said device being constructed and arranged to uncover said support in an initial position but to cover said support while removing a coin therefrom; singling means adjacent said support to prevent the removal of more than one coin from said support at a time; actuating means for said device; control means engageable by a coin resting upon said support to initiate operation of said actuating means and subsequently engageable by said device in its movement before and after complete disengagement by the removed coin to continue operation of said actuatin means until the coin has been completely transferred and said support again uncovered by said device.

FOUNT F. DAUGHERTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 968,053 Heldmann Aug. 23, 1910 1,076,584 Kohler Oct. 21, 1913 1,081,958 Grey Dec. 23, 1913 1,210,622 Fefell Jan. 2, 1917 2,268,096 Von Keller Dec. 30, 1941 2,311,560 Millard Feb. 16, 1943 

